India to participate at non-official level in Moscow meet on Afghanistan

Ending speculation, India has decided to participate at the non-official level at a meeting on Afghanistan to be hosted by Moscow on Friday. ‘’We are aware that the Russian Federation is hosting a meeting in Moscow on 9 November on Afghanistan. Our participation will be at the non-official leave,’’ External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Thursday in response to a question. He said India supported all efforts at peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan that would preserve unity and plurality, and bring security, stability and prosperity to the country. ‘’India’s consistent policy has been that such efforts should be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, and Afghan-controlled and with participation of the Government of Afghanistan,’’ he added. India’s decision to participate in the meeting came apparently after Afghanistan announced that it would not send an official delegation to the Moscow meet. However, a delegation from the High Peace Council (HPC) from Afghanistan would attend it. For the first time, a delegation of the Political Office of the Taliban Movement in Doha would also participate in this meeting. Apart from India and Afghanistan, Russia has invited Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the United States to the meeting. The US, which is holding separate talks with the Taliban under the Doha process, is sending an observer to the Moscow meet.